Why Does Social Development Lead to a Discord Between Man and Nature

Abstract

The article addresses the questions of social development related to the issue of the relationship between society and nature. The subject of social development is man endowed with reason, that is, the ability to create tools for living, using natural resources for his or her own interests and goals. But in this there is no common purpose accepted in advance, the vector of development is determined by the elemental background, as the combined result of the actions of many people impelled by various motives under circumstances that they themselves did not choose. An unintended consequence of this development is the disruption of the natural environment, first the local, and with the transition to the industrial era, the global. The role of man in this process is due to his dualistic ancestral nature, the dichotomy of private and common interests. Modern society hypertrophies private interests, giving rise to a type of “selfish individual” with consumer expectations, and economic growth which has already gone beyond the biosphere potential of the planet. Awareness of the elemental background of development leads to an understanding of the need for conscious regulation and control. Instead of development aimed at private interests, there should come development aimed at the common interests of survival and the preservation of nature in a condition suitable for life. The concept of sustainable development is aimed at such a perspective. It is impossible to force the biosphere to develop “for man”, but it is possible to change values, behavior, production methods and consumer habits “for nature”. It is a long and difficult path, and the inertia of resistance is great, so the future remains uncertain.

Keywords

• social development
• natural environment
• society of individuals
• human essence
• private interests
• common interests
• awareness of spontaneity
• limits of growth
• sustainable development